HDs - 200Gb 7200RPM SATA with FFS or 64GB Solid State

I have to buy a new laptop - which HD to choose

[Visit Thailand]

My current laptop is 4 years old and it is time to buy a new one.

My question is with regards to hardrives. Should I go for the 200GB 7200 RPM with FFS or the new technology the 64GB Solid State?

There is a big price difference, around US$ 900 more for the newer technology.

In the US (where Dell's latest models appear first)they offer what they call a RAID Performance: 640GB (2x320GB) 5400RPM or the 64 GB Solid State. Is there a big difference between those? I could wait a while until the first arrives in Asia.

Speed is the most important thing for me (I am not a gamer but like to jump between applications quickly etc) and while 64GB is not big I normally use around half of that anyway.

I always buy top of the range when it comes to a new laptop, so it would have 4GB RAM, Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Extreme X9000(2.8GHz/800Mhz FSB/6M L2, Ageia Mobile PhysX, Vsita Ultimate etc etc.

I will be purchasing the Dell XPS M1730.

Any advice is appreciated. Thank you in advance.

[eelixduppy]

To give you an idea of the differences in RAID and SSDs, here's a little article to read about benchmarking: SSD vs. SATA RAID: A performance benchmark [linux.com]. Maybe that will aid in your decision. :)

[martinibuster]

Strange. I see a 128GB SATA II SSD coming out on Tuesday, August 5th for $479 (after a $50 rebate). Branded by OCZ. That's a 2.5 inch form factor. That's compared to $799 for a 64GB version by Samsung. Might wait until after Tuesday to see if prices drop on those drives.

[Visit Thailand]

eelixduppy - thanks for the link. It is quite intense reading but very useful.

martinibuster - thanks also. I was not aware of the 128 GB version.

I am not sure though what the lead time is on newer versions coming out in Asia. I know in Thailand we can only buy Dell's cheaper systems so I am forced to go to HK for example to buy the latest top end models.

I will wait a while to see if they reduce the price of the 64 GB version and see how expensive the 128 GB version will be.

I am very excited about buying a new system, and like mentioned always buy the top of the range so that they will remain pretty constant and last me (hopefully) at least 3 or 4 years before new technology entices me to buy something newer.

[kaled]

I would get a single standard drive. You can install a solid-state drive as an upgrade later if you feel the need. If the laptop has two drive-bays, you can install the new drive beside the original.

I would also research the power requirements and performance figures. My USB flash drives get pretty hot and are not particularly fast. (The heat might result from the USB interface not the flash-memory - I'm not sure.) In any case, I have my doubts that the technology is ready yet except for special applications. You could spend a lot of money and be disappointed.

Kaled.

[SEOMike]

256 gig due out in Q4 of this year :)